Iran’s press court on Thursday ordered the closure of the conservative weekly Harim for an unspecified period of time on charges of defaming President Mohammad Khatami, reported the Iranian News Agency (IRNA), quoting a statement.

It said that the editor of the weekly, Hassan Akhtari is also under legal suit.

The suspension took place following a complaint filed by the head of the Tehran Justice Department, said the agency.

His complaint said Harim had "defamed" Khatami and "mocked him over his promise (during the 1997 electoral campaign that brought him into office) to establish a state of law and a civil society."

Harim is the second conservative weekly to be suspended in a year, said AFP.

In contrast, 16 reformist dailies and some 15 other periodicals have been suspended during the same period by the conservative-dominated judiciary – Albawaba.com